Israel bars two Swedish MEPs from entering occupied West Bank

Israel has denied entry to two Swedish members of the European Parliament, Jonas Sjostedt and Hanna Gedin, who attempted to visit the occupied West Bank. The decision was announced by Israel's foreign ministry on Sunday. The ministry accused the two lawmakers of consistently acting against Israel, including by calling for international legal proceedings against Israelis and spreading false accusations against Israel, such as allegations of genocide, deliberate starvation, and intentional targeting of children and medical personnel.

The two MEPs had planned to meet human rights and humanitarian organizations, as well as visit refugee camps, and stated they were not intending to meet the Palestinian Authority.

The Israeli government has previously faced allegations of genocide in Gaza, with UN investigators accusing Israel of deliberately targeting Palestinian children as part of an ongoing genocide. In June, these investigators reported on the alleged actions. Rawhi Fattouh, president of the Palestinian National Council, condemned Israel's decision, calling it an attempt to silence criticism of the occupation.

In 2019, Israel barred US Democratic congresswomen Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar from entering the country after they had strongly criticized Israeli policies towards Palestinians.